Collapsible boat



0, 1968 R, s. MARSHALL ETAL 3,397,412

COLLAPSIBLE BOAT Filed Dec. 15, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.1.

WWMMM 7 m MM 6% jygammwyummwsmm 20, 1963 R. s. MARSHALL ETAL 3,397,412

COLLAPSIBLE BOAT Filed Dec. 15, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3.

37 541444? a/wazmw 6441070 1968 R. s. MARSHALL ETAL 3,397,412

COLLAPSI BLE BOAT Filed Dec. 15, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 94% WW my 5r 5mm fl W/dzma 45441070 United States Patent 3,397,412 COLLAPSIBLE BOAT Robert Swinburn Marshall, Riverdale, Greatford, near Stamford, and Frederick William Clegg, The Old Rectory, Greatford, near Stamford, England, assignors to Novotec Research Limited, Greatford, near Stamford, England, a corporation of the United Kingdom Filed Dec. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 601,984 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Dec. 21, 1965, 54,073/ 65 4 Claims. (Cl. 9-2) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A collapsible boat comprising a quadrilateral bottom panel, spaced opposed quadrilateral side panels and end panels, watertight flexible connecting means between the bottom panel and the side and bow and stern end panels, and triangular panels connected between the side panels and end panels at each corner of the bottom panel by means of watertight flexible connection whereby the side panels and end panels may be folded inwards to overlie the bottom panel, and means to releasably maintain the opposed side walls in spaced relation. The triangular panels adjacent the stem end panel have two angles of approximately 45, and the rear edges of the side panels are at an angle of approximately 45 to their bottom edges. When the stem end panel is erected it is substantially vertical.

This invention relates to collapsible boats.

Such boats are of three main types; firstly inflatable, in which the sides of the boat are formed by air tubes given rigidity by inflation. This type has the disadvantages of limited rigidity, proneness to puncture damage, the considerable dimensions of the inflated parts, and the necessity for inflation.

The second type has a watertight skin which is stretched over a more or less complicated dismountable framework. Erection is usually complicated, and the skin is prone to wear damage and lacks rigidity.

The third type consists at least principally of semirigid panels hinged together by watertight flexible joints along curved edges, the panels being sufficiently flexible and so joined as to assume a flat condition when the boat is collapsed and the panels are laid parallel, and a curved condition in which they define the hull of a boat when erected. The shape of the panels is necessarily complex, and rigidity of the structure is limited.

The object of the invention is to provide a collapsible boat comprising flexibly connected panels, in which the panels can be straight edged and rigid, although it will be appreciated that a slight degree of curvature of the panel edges with a corresponding degree of flexibilityv in the panels may be introduced. Essentially however, the intention is to provide a structure which does not necessitate such curvature or such flexibility.

According to the invention, a collapsible boat comprises a quadrilateral bottom panel, spaced opposed quadrilateral side panels and end panels, watertight flexible connecting means between the bottom panel and the side and end panels, and triangular panels connected betwee the side panels and end panels at each corner'of the bottom panel by means of watertight flexible connections whereby the side panels and end panels may be folded inwards to overlie the bottom panel, and means to releasably maintain the opposed side walls in spaced relation. The angles at the corners of the panels are such that when erected the stem end panel is substantially vertical.

According to a preferred form of the invention, a collapsible boat comprising a plurality of panel members interconnected at their edges by flexible watertight connecting members, said panel members being adapted for relative movement about said connecting members between a conformation in which they form a boat shaped shell and a conformation in which the panels overlie each other to form a flat folded assembly, is characterised in that the panel members are substantially rigid and comprise a substantially rectangular bottom panel, quadrilateral bow end and stem end panels each joined at one edge by flexible watertight connections to opposite edges of said bottom panel, two substantially trapezium shaped side panels joined along their longest edges by watertight flexible connections to the other two opposite edges of the bottom panel, and four triangular panels each connected by flexible watertight connections to one of the end, i.e., front or rear edges of a side panel, and to one of the edges of an end panel, each connected edge being of equal length to the edge to which it is connected. The dimensions of each triangular panel are such that, when said side and end panels are folded about their connections with the bottom panel so as to overlie the latter, an apex of the triangular panel is at a corner of the bottom panel and the two edges of the triangular panel which extend from that apex are joined respectively to one side edge of an end panel and one end, i.e., front or rear, edge of a side panel. The flexible connections between one pair of opposed edges of the bottom panel and the adjacent panels are of such width as to permit a separation between the two panels at least equal to the combined thickness of a triangular panel and one of the two, i.e., side or end panels joined to the other two edges of the bottom panel. At least one means is provided for releasably engaging the side panels whereby to maintain them at the largest separation permitted by their connections with the remaining panels.

Preferably, the flexible connections each comprise a pair of strips of watertight material bonded respectively to opposite sides of adjacent edges of the panels, one strip of each pair including a fold or gusset passed through a gap between the adjacent edges of the panels and secured to the other strip of that pair.

, The invention is described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a composite side elevation in cross-section of a collapsible boat, the right hand portion of which depicts the boat erected for use and the left hand portion of which depicts the boat collapsed.

FIGURE 2 is a composite plan view corresponding to FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view of another collapsible boat.

FIGURES 4 to 7 illustrate watertight joints between panels of collapsible boats, and

FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal cross-section through a further embodiment of the boat.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2 in the drawings, one preferred embodiment of a collapsible boat comprises a rectangular bottom panel 1, elongate-quadrilateral side panels 2, rectangular end panels 3 and triangular side panel extensions 4, all of which are formed of a substantially rigid material such as plywood or fibreglass laminate.

The panels 1, 2 and 3 and extensions 4 are interconnected by flexible watertight connections 6 arranged to permit relative movement between the panels, between the erected position shown in the right hand half of FIGURES l and 2 and the collapsed position shown in the left hand half thereof.

It will be observed from FIGURES l and 2 that the dimensions of the boat when collapsed are equivalent to 3 the length and breadth of the bottom panel, whilst the height is substantially equivalent to the combined thickness of the bottom panel, one end panel, one side panel and one side panel extension.

Different flexible watertight connections 6 are provided between certain of the panels in order to permit the side and end panels to be folded into the state shown in the left hand half of FIGURES l and 2, and in FIGURE 3 which represents an exploded perspective view of another folding craft, connections of four different forms are indicated by the references 7, 8, 9 and 10.

A connection 7 is illustrated in more detail in FIGURE 4, wherein the confronting edges of a side panel 2 and a side panel extension 4, include flat face portions 12 and 13 respectively and rounded edges 14 and 15. The panels are connected along their confronting edges by flexible strips 16 and 17 of water proof material adhesively secured to the opposite side faces of the panels. The strip 16 which lies along the inside face 18 of the panels along edges where panels 2 and 4 abut and lies along the outside of panels 18 along edges where panels 1 and 2 abut includes a fold or gusset 19 which extends into a gap between the edges of the panels and is adhesively secured to the strip 17. The flexible connection, thus provided, permits the panels 2 and 4 to be angularly displaced relative to each other between a collapsed position wherein the external faces of panels 2 and 4 lie flat against each other, and an erected position wherein the panels lie end to end.

FIGURE illustrates a flexible connection 8 between the same pair of panels depicted in FIGURE 5, the difference being that the confronting edges of the panels 2 and 4 are semicircular in cross section.

FIGURE 6 illustrates a flexible connection 9 between confronting edges 20 and 21 respectively of the bottom panel 1 and an end panel 3. The edges 20 and 21 are interconnected in a similar manner by flexible strips 22 and 23 corresponding to strips 16 and '17 in FIGURE 4 and include a gusset or fold portion 24. The edges 20 and 21, are, however, spaced apart by a distance sufficient, when the panel 3 is folded over the bottom panel 1, to accommodate therebetween the thickness of a side panel 2 and the side extension panel 4.

FIGURE 7 illustrates a flexible connection between co-operating edges and 21 of the bottom panel 1 and one end panel 3. The connection 10 differs from that shown in FIGURE 7 by the inclusion between the strips 22 and 23 and between the confronting edges 20 and 21, of a rigid slat or bar 25. The strip 22 is formed with gussets 26 and 27 which extend between the gaps between the bar and the edges of the panels 1 and 3 and are bonded to the other strip 23.

The connection shown in FIGURE 7 permits, with an enhanced degree of lateral rigidity as compared with the embodiment of FIGURE 6, angular displacement of the end panel about the bottom panel to such that the former may be folded over the latter leaving space between for accommodating the side panels and side extension panels.

As shown at the left in FIGURES 1 and 2, when the panels are folded, the flexible strip 6 connecting the rear end edge of the bottom panel 1 to an edge of the adjacent end panel 3 is sufficiently high or wide, that is of sufficient extent in a direction normal to the plane of the bottom panel 1, to enable the end portion of the side panel 2, the triangular panel 4, and the end panel 3 all to lie flat and respectively in planes parallel to the plane of the bottom panel -1.

At junctions between four adjacent panels, for example, at the corner of the bottom panel, the connecting strips which extend laterally, relative to the fore and aft centre line of the boat, overlie those strips which extend in fore and aft directions. Thus, referring to FIG- URE 3, a first flexible watertight strip extending fore-andnft of the boat when the latter is erected, connects the lower edge of a panel 2 to the adjacent edge of the hottom panel 1, and also connects the lower edge of the panel 4 to an edge of the adjacent panel 3. A second flexible watertight strip, which extends laterally, connects the adjacent edges of the panels 2 and 4, and connects the adjacent edges of the panels 1 and 3. The second, i.e., laterally extending, strip overlies the first, i.e., fore and aft extending strip, thereby providing the required watertight connection.

In order to erect the 'boat from the collapsed state the end panels 3 are raised and turned outwardly with respect to their connections to the bottom panel 1; in so doing the side panels 2 and triangular side extension panels 4 are also raised upwardly from the bottom panel until a position is reached, where the end panels have been displaced outwardly through the maximum angle permitted by the configuration of the side extension panels. In this position the side panels will be substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel but the boat will not be rigid. The side panels are then inclined outwardly through a further small angle and retained in that position by insertion of one or more removable thwarts or stretchers 28 (see FIG- URES 1 and 2). The thwart 28 includes a rigid cross member 29 having end portions 30' each terminating in a U-shaped clamp 31 which is adapted to fit over the gunwale of the boat.

The inclination of the end panels 3 with respect to the bottom panel 1 when the craft is erect may be varied according to the purpose for which the boat is designed by appropriate selection of the configuration of the side wall extension panels 4. For example, one end panel may be so arranged as to constitute a transom for supporting an outboard motor. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1, the end panels are inclined such that oppo site ends of the boat are slightly higher than the upper edge of the side panels, providing a shape akin to that of a punt.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 8, those features of the boat corresponding to those of the boat of FIGURES 17 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the same description applies to them.

However, the stern end panel 3 is at an inclination approaching the vertical and is provided with a reinforcing member 40 to form a transom for an outboard motor (not shown) whilst the side panels are provided with brackets 41 for rowlocks 42, the brackets being movable to alternative positions as shown in broken lines to allow for a different position (as shown in broken lines) of that one of the thwarts or stretchers 28 which provides a seat for a rower, according to whether the second thwart 28 is being used as a seat. Each stretcher 28 comprises a rigid cross member or seat board 29, and bracket members 30 hinged to the ends of the seat board by pivots 43, whereby they can be folded beneath the seat member when the latter is detached from the boat, or erected to a position enabling engagement of the U-shaped clamp 31 with the gunwale at the top of the side panel 2. Each bracket member 30 is secured to a side panel 2 by means of a pin 44 the turned in ends of which are inserted respectively into pairs of aligned apertures 45 in the bracket member and the side panel 2. Additionally, the bracket member is secured in its erected position to the seat board 29 by a toggle clip 46.

In the preferred embodiments the bottom panel is exactly rectangular; it will, however, be appreciated that the side edges of the bottom panel and the corresponding side edges of the side panels may be given a slight curvature such that when the boat is erected a slight longitudinal curvature is imparted to the bottom panel of the boat and a corresponding slight curvature imparted to the side panels.

In both embodiments, to allow folding of the boat to a flat condition, it is necessary that each of the triangular side panel extensions 4 is of such dimensions that its apices are positioned respectively, firstly at a corner of the bottom panel 1, secondly at a corner of the associated end panel 3 other than the corner thereof which is adjacent said corner of the bottom panel, and thirdly at a corner of the associated side panel 4 other than the corner thereof which is adjacent said corner of the bottom panel. This means in practice that if the end and bottom panels are rectangular, the angle of that apex of a triangular panel adjacent a corner of the bottom panel will be equal to the angle of the corner of a side panel adjacent the same corner of the bottom panel; in the embodiment of FIGURE 8, both these angles at the stern end of the boat will be approximately 45, and those at the bow end somewhat greater.

What we claim is:

1. A collapsible boat comprising a plurality of panel members interconnected at their edges by flexible watertight connecting members, said panel members being adapted for relative movement about said connecting members between a conformation in which they form a boat shaped shell and a conformation in which the panels overlie each other to form a flat folded assembly, characterized in that the panel members are substantially rigid and comprise a substantially rectangular bottom panel, quadrilateral bow end and stern end panels each joined at one edge by flexible watertight connections to opposite edges of said bottom panel, two substantially trapezium shaped side panels joined along their longest edges by watertight flexible connections to the other two opposite edges of the bottom panel, and four triangular panels each connected by flexible watertight connections to one of the edges of a side panel adjacent its long edge and to one of the edges of an end panel adjacent that edge of the latter joined to the bottom panel, each connected edge being of equal length to the edge to which it is connected, each of the triangular panels adjacent the stern end panel having two angles of approximately 45 and the rear edges of said side panels being at an angle of approximately 45 to their bottom edges, whereby said stern end panel is approximately vertical when said side, end and triangular panels are erected to stand up from said bottom panel, the flexible connection between each of the stern and bow edges of said bottom panel and the adjacent end panel comprising a strip of flexible material of such width as to enable said adjacent end panel, the associated triangular panels, and the associated end portions of said side panels all to lie fiat and respectively in planes parallel to the plane of the bottom panel, the width of said strip being such as to permit a separation between said bottom panel and said end panel at least equal to the combined thicknesses of the associated side panel, triangular panel and end panel, and at least one stretcher member releasably engaging the side panels whereby to maintain them at the largest separation permitted by their connections with the remaining panels, said separation being such that said side panels are inclined upwardly-outwardly at a small angle to vertical.

2. The boat of claim 1, characterised in that at least one of said flexible connections comprises a first strip of flexible watertight material secured to one face of both connected panels, and a second strip of watertight flexible material secured to the other face of both connected panels, said strips being secured together between said panels to form a connecting web between the edges of those two faces of the panels which lie opposite each other when the boat is folded, one of said strips having a fold providing a gusset extending into a gap between adjacent edges of the panels connected by that strip.

3. The boat of claim 1 in which at least one of said flexible connections comprises a first strip of flexible watertight material secured to one face of each of the panels which said first strip connects, a second strip of watertight flexible material secured to the other face of each of the panels which said second strip connects, and a rigid slat between said first and second strips and between the adjacent but spaced edges of said connected panels, one of said strips having gussets extending into gaps between said slat and the respective edges of said connected panels and being secured to the other of said strips.

4. The boat of claim 1 in which said stern end panel is provided with a reinforcement for mounting an outboard motor.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,243,247 5/1941 Clark 92 2,271,338 1/ 1942 Hamlin 92 2,299,178 10/ 1942 Reiter 9-7 2,346,081 4/ 1944 Randrup 9--2 3,056,976 10/1962 Craft 92 3,184,768 5/1965 Thomson 92 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

R. A. DORNON, Assistant Examiner. 

